Background
Opportunity: MSc/PhD studentship
Institution: University of Cape Town (UCT) – http://www.uct.ac.za/
Department: Environmental and Geographical Science (EGS) – http://www.egs.uct.ac.za/
Research Group: Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) – http://www.csag.uct.ac.za/
Seasonal forecast information for improved sector-specific decision making
The Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG) is currently seeking a motivated person with a passion for exploring the interaction of climate and agricultural systems in southern Africa. This is an opportunity to join one of the largest multi-disciplinary and vibrant climate system research groups on the continent, and help address key issues related to the uptake of seasonal forecast information within southern Africa.
What to expect: The incumbent will work as part of a small team within CSAG and with research partners at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University of Pretoria (UP) and the South African Weather Service (SAWS). This team and partners conduct research on using seasonal climate information (including forecasts from Global Climate Models and downscaling techniques) to evaluate predicted impacts on agricultural systems (crops and livestock), water resources, and appropriate options/actions for responding to predicted impacts. This position is directly connected to the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use (SASSCAL) project Climate Modelling for the Improvement of Seasonal Forecasts and its Applications for Southern Africa, the objective of which is to advance the integration of seasonal forecast information in decision making and planning. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to efforts to monitor and predict aspects of within-season climate variability that are important for agriculture e.g. onset, cessation, dry spells, heat stress etc, as well as the development of tailored products that can advance decision-making and the assessment of near-term risks.
The successful candidate will ideally be a climate/environmental modeller with a keen interest in agricultural applications and preferably having direct experience with climate/hydrological/crop models, remote sensing or agrometeorological applications. Proficiency in one or more modern scientific programming languages (e.g. R, Python) is an advantage, as is experience of Linux operating environments. Depending on experience the successful applicant for the MSc/PhD position will have flexibility to develop his/her research interests within the scope of the SASSCAL-funded project, which will provide a full scholarship to cover living expenses and university registration (R 75-120,000 annually reviewed, depending on postgraduate level).
Supervision: The MSc./Ph.D candidate will be co-supervised by Dr. Mark Tadross, Dr. Emma Archer (CSIR) and Prof. Willem Landman (UP). Further connections and interactions with senior and junior staff at CSAG will be welcomed and expected (see http://www.csag.uct.ac.za).
About CSAG: CSAG is a vibrant multi-disciplinary research group at the University of Cape Town, with approx. 30 members, and a strong track record in addressing climate issues. The group currently runs multiple global and regional climate models, has good in-house computational capacity and access to additional supercomputer facilities. Research foci span atmospheric physics, climate analysis, climate modeling and forecasting as well as engagement with climate change impacts and adaptation in the agriculture and water sectors especially, and the support for stakeholders on climate change issues.
About the SASSCAL project: SASSCAL is a joint initiative of Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Germany. There are five SASSCAL themes including forestry, agriculture, biodiversity, climate change and water. Further details can be found at http://www.sasscal.org.
To apply: Submit information requests and applications by email to climapp@csag.uct.ac.za (use the reference ‘SASSCAL application’ in the subject line). No fax or postal applications please. Include a letter of motivation outlining your interests, research questions you would like to address, reasons for your application, a full CV (no certificates), and the names, email and telephone details of 3 referees.
Deadline: Application is open-ended, with the intent to start the MSc./Ph.D as early as July 2016 and no later than January 2017.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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